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Fears for high street trade from increased parking charges

Councils could kill off high street trade if they hike town centre parking charges, a small business support organisation has warned.

The Forum of Private Business has hit out at hefty increases in council parking charges being proposed by some local authorities to plug shortfalls in their budgets due to cuts in local government funding.

The not-for-profit support organisation believes raising the rates could put small firms out of business as shoppers are driven away from the high street towards out-of-town supermarkets and retail parks, which enjoy free parking.

The Forum's head of campaigns, Jane Bennett, said: "Simply putting up parking charges might seem like an easy and convenient way for local authorities to plug their budget shortfalls.

"However, it could well prove to be a false economy as it will drive even more trade out of town centres, leading to more empty units, fewer visitors and lower amounts raised through business rates.

"High street traders are already very anxious about January's VAT rise. By putting up parking charges - by as much as 150% in some cases - these councils will give people another incentive to shun their independent local shops in favour of identikit out-of-town supermarkets and retail parks.

She added: "Around the UK, many forward-thinking town halls have deliberately kept their parking charges down - or even kept parking free altogether - in order to boost trade. They have been rewarded with thriving town centres, full of varied and unique shops.

"We would urge the councils who are proposing to push up their parking prices to think again and follow this example instead."

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